Former state Sen. Josh Penry[2] is the latest conservative to offer an impassioned defense of Dick Wadhams[3], the outgoing and embattled chairman of the state GOP.

Penry wrote in his hometown newspaper that Wadhams was instrumental in the defeat of Democrat Rep. Bernie Buescher[4] of Grand Junction in 2008, and is a “conservative to the bone:”

Dick Wadhams is not someone for any conservative to loathe. For a full generation, Wadhams has swung a baseball bat and tire iron on behalf of the cause of limited government that some of his fiercest critics have only recently awakened to.

Thanks to the Grand Junction Sentinel for allowing Spot readers to read the entire column by clicking on this link[5].

Meanwhile, Pat Waak, the outgoing chairwoman of the Colorado Democrat Party, weighed in on Wadhams and being a party chair in the Huffington Post,[6] saying in part:

Anyone watching Colorado is aware that last campaign cycle was a test of leadership for both parties.

Democrats had a Senate primary that created hard feelings in the party. We have gone through this three times in the past seven years. Republicans seemed to fall apart around their Governor and Senate races. There were tales of back room deals and lack of vetting. Everyone is pointing fingers.